Running shoe



Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,806

H. A. PERRY RUNNING SHOE Filed Aug. 6, 1924 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. l, i925.

istaett arena entree.

HUGH A. PERRY, or CHICAGO, ILLINQIS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'IO CHAS. E.

' Bon'nnrr, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RUNNING SHOE.

Application filed August 6, 1924. Serial No. 730,4579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH A. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Running Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to running shoes, and more particularly to the traction-securing element thereof, it being the present object to make a shoe of this kind in which the traction-seeuring element is built 1n as a part of the sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of ground spikes as composing the traction-securing element, such spikes being attached to a common base with the result that the spikes are held in place and kept pointed in the proper direction.

A further object of the invention is to so associate the ground spikes with their common base, as mentioned above, that no special machinery or skill need be used for purposes of assembly or for application to the shoe sole.

With the above objects in view, the invention embodies a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, attention beingdirected to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the novel running shoe;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outer sole, enlarged, showing the application of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, further enlarged.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes a typical running shoe in which the present consideration involves but the inner andouter soles 6 and 7, respectively. Shoes of this kind are usually provided with a series of pointed spikes for better ground traction. While the spikes themselves have proved efiicient for this purpose, the manner of their application or attachment to the shoe has given considerable concern, since the spikes would become deflected after a short period of use;

also the inner sole would yield at the site of each spike, bulging up to the discomfort of the wearer.

To eliminate the above deficiencies, the novel embodiment features a special'plate 8 as a base for the spikes whereby to maintain them in erect position at all times and also to prevent them from impressing the inner sole 6. This plate is of flexible sheet steel, or any other suitable spring metal, and its form simulates a horseshoe, to correspond with the shape of the shoe sole.

The plate 8 is out with a. series of laterally directed slots 9, these opening along the outer margin of the plate. The slots form the medium of attachment for a series of spikes 10', whose stems are of conventional design. The spikes are made with large round heads 11, these however being relativelythin, and either rounded or tapered along the periphery. Next inside the head, the stem or shank of each spike is cut with an annular groove or reduction 12.

In application, a set of spikes is mounted on a specimen plate 8 by simply fitting each spike into a slot 9 at the site of the groove or reduction 12. The spike will be so dimensioned at this point as to form a fairly snug fit with the plate when slid upon the same, so that the assembly of the plate and the spikes will hold together as one for application to the shoe. l/Vith the outer sole 7 perforated at points corresponding with the setting of the spikes, the assembly of the latter is passed through the perforations until the plate 8 and the sole are flatly in Contact. The inner sole 6 is then laid upon the exposed side of the plate, the shoe-upper applied in the usualmanner, and the three plies of leather stitched together all around. While the stitching along the outer edge of the plate may be sufficient to conline the latter in its given position, a row of stitching along the inner edge of the plate will eliminate any possible shifting tendency on the part of the plate.

With the sole assembly completed as described, it will be seen that the spike heads- 11 will be immovably seated between the inner and outer soles. The spikes, due to their common base plate, will always project erectly from the outer sole. When the shoe is in use, the plate 8 will spring with the flexing of the sole, and will of course return to its original shape, therefore maintaining the shoe in proper form as well. However, whatever the plane of the sole or plate, the spikes will always project perpendicularly thereto. Since the plate 8 is a common base for all the spikes, no one spike can impinge upon the inner sole, and

the latter will thus maintain its substan tially fiat position at all'times, supporting the foot in comfort. Since the stresses borne by the shoe are usually in a forward or rearward direction, the plate slots 9 are transversely positioned, as described, to form a positive lock against forward or rearward'shifting tendencies n the part of the spikes. Lateral shifting tendencies being less severe, the usually heavy stitching on each side of the spike heads will be an ample safeguard.

It will lee-apparent that a similar construction may be used in the heel-part of the shoe if desired; also, that various changes, modifications or refinements may be made to suit divers purposes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the stem ot the spike, instead of being made initially with a full body, may be formed with a direct taper, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3. Also, the annular spike groove 12 might be reduced to a pair of oppositelylocated slots for sliding engagement with the sides of a given plate slot 9, this modification locking the spike from turning and leaving more stock in the same for strength at the site of its engagement with the plate.

I claim:

1. A shoe comprising inner and outer soles, a flexible U-shaped metallic element between said soles and having slots extending out through the outer edge thereof, and spikes having shanks provided with reduced annular portions received in said slots, and means connecting the soles at the inner and outer edges of said flexible U- shaped metallic elements.

2. A shoe comprising inner and outer soles, a.fiexible metallic element between said soles and having slots, and spikes having reduced annular portions snugly received in said slots, and means connecting the soles at the inner and outer edges of said flexible metallic elements.

3. A spike assembly for running shoes comprising a flexible plate non-shittably p'ositioned between the inner and outer soles of the shoe, a series of spikes directed from between the soles through the outer sole,

said soles along the edge of said plate to confine the latter in its position to prevent shifting, a serles of spikes directed from be tween the soles through the outer sole, marginal slots in the plate heads and reduced necks at the inner ends of the spikes, the said slots in the plate receiving such necks of the spikes so as to locate the heads thereof between the plate and the inner sole.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HUGH A. PERRY. 

